Selective-circuit push-button switch



S. HAMILTON.

SELECTIVE CIRCUIT PUSH BUTTON SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED MARJI, 1921.

1,437391. atented Dec. 5,1922.

' m'suur/om jmlwlll A 25 I" -['g.4. if

Samuel Hamillun.

Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

- UNITED STATES SAMUEL HAMILTON, OF BARRINGTON, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA.

SELECTIVE-CIRCUIT PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH.

Application filed March 7, 1921. Serial No. 450,503.

T 0 all w from it may concern:

1 Be it known that I, SAMUEL HAMILTQN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Barrington, in the Province of Nova Scotia and Dominion of Canada, have in vented certain new and useful Improve ments in Selective-Circuit Push-Button Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to selective circuit switchesfor closing any one of a plurality of circuits from a-common source.

The primary object of the invention is to rovide a selective circuit switch adapted or use in hotels, hospitals, factories, and department stores or the like, where it may be installed for the purpose of selectively signalling to any one of a number of departments.

A further object of the invention isthe provision of a device of the above described character,'in each circuit of which is installed an annunciator, and a signalling device.

A further object of the invention is a device of the above described character, which is simple in construction, compact in for mation, andresembling in external appearance, the ordinary push button switch.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the above described character, which has all of its operating parts enclosed b an oscillating cover, with the exception 0 suitable indicating means located exteriorly thereof.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved selective switch, showing the external appearance thereof.

Figure 2' is a cross sectional view showing the operating construction of the improved switch.

Figure 3 is a plan view partly diagrammatic, and showing certain internal construction of the improved selective switch.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view showing certain details of construction.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the letter A designates a stationary support, upon which is oscillatively mounted a support B. A cover C is detachably connected to the support B, and houses the switch structure D for selectively closing the contacts E of a plurality of circuits. Indicating means F, is positioned exteriorly of the selective switch push button structure, and cooperates with the switch means D and contacts E in closing a particular circuit.

The stationary support A is preferably circular in formation, and disc shaped, and provided in concentric alignment therewith and upon the rear thereof'with a plurality of depressed openings 10, near the outer circumference, which are adapted to receive a plurality of contact pins 11. The contact pins 11 are provided with heads 12, seated iii suitable depressions in the face 13 of the support A, and having their stems 14 pro jecting rearly through the apertures 10 and 7 upon which are mounted the nuts 15 for adjustably securing the terminals 16'of various branch circuits. The heads 12 are so positioned in the face 13 of the support A that their outer surfaces lie flush and sub- .to engage in a suitable aperture through the support B, and havinga reduced screw threaded shank 22 projecting from the rear face of said support B and adapted for disposition within the screw threaded recess 23 in the face 13 of the stationary support A. The spindle 20 is provided upon the shoulder 21 with a suitable slot adapted for receivin a screw driver or the like to facilitate pTacing of the same on the support A; and is provided with a suitable screw threaded aperture centrally thereof adapted to detachably receive a'screw 24 for positioning the terminal wire connection 25, in such manner that the screw 24 will act as a common contact, the function of which will be hereinafter more fully set forth. The wire 25 is led through suitable openings in the support A and spindle 20 to position the same. beneath the head of the screw 24. The oscillative support 3 is cir cular in formation, and oi less diameter than the stationary support The cover C, is altogether similar in appearance to the ordinary push button and is provided with a hollowed depression 80 adapted to receive the switch control means D. The cover 0 is provided with an outer circumferential flange 31 adapted to engage the axial circumference of the oscillative support B and to contactup'on the face 13 at the outer 'circun rence thereof substantially shown in i? igure 2 of the drawings. The cover C is detachably connected to the support 13 by suitable screws 33 or the like.

The switch control means G con the spring contact arm 35, whichis substantially AE-shaped in formation and attached to the inside of the cover C hear the outer circumference thereof by means of a detachable screw '86. The contact arnro is, however, connected by the screw 36 intermediate its ends and has the upper end thereoi pro jecting into arecess 37 notched'upon the outer circumference 023 the support from which position the contact arm is sinuousiy bent to be disposed within a depression 39 upon the rear surface oi the flange 31; and when the cover C is positioned. upon the sup-- port B,the sinuously bent portion 38 is nor-- mally maintained under slight compression to lie in the line of contact with. the heads 12 of contacts 11. ".lhus, the cover C is rotated with respect'to the stationary support A, the-endSB 'otthe 35 will contact with the various heads 12 of contacts 11 in successive order. end 10 of'the spring; 35 is yieldably depended, in such manner that a hooked end 41 thereof engages the push button 42, disposed within an aperture centrally oi: the cover C. The push button 42 is similar in construction to the ordinary push button, with the exception that it is providedwith a shoulder ist disposed upon the inside ir'ace of the cover C and maintained to engage said cover Q by the normal yieldable compression of the spring '35, in normal position, it can be seen from the foregoing, that the end 38 of the spring 35 normally is in contact with either of the heads '12 of contacts 11, while the end 40 of the spring 35 i yheld in yieldable spacedrelation with re-' ence numerals or similar indicia thereon, The dellneations 49 of'course, correspond to The opposite "t the s tors *2' being-I Founded at 56 to the common co11- duster which is in circuit with thewires "5-0.

Thus the improved selective signal switch is adapted for use in hospitals, hotels, department stores and'th'e like,where the same may be positioned at particular place, having the wires '50 leadto the different departments, whereby the particular departt may be selectivelycalled by means of l V the particular Contact 11 of that department and the common contactQ l, by means of the arm '35.

Thus, iii it is desired to call a particular department, the cover C is oscillated, until that particular department delineations 49 is positionec cirectly below the pointer lB, and upon pushing the button 42, the switch arm will be (impressed, in such way that the circuit will be completed in the system, and the annunciator 51 andsthesignal 52 l. respect be actuated to notify that 'ticular d iartment;

ins 'a oi? the (le ies in a hosthe itions 9 could cornd. to the diftemnt departments of a al. such as number 1 eithe delinea- 7 a nurses mu. one of the lead s 30 of wh ch conve s the circuit to'the annunciator 51. and signal within the nurses room. 'lhetnumber 2o't th'e delineations d9 could indicate a call 't'oraninterne, and a particular lead wire 50 could convey the cun'ent to an annunciator Bland signal 2 wi hin i: 1e intern'es d artment. Inthe clOll shown uFigui-"e 1, the indi cater 4 i i nldkwh h 'couldbe'used V with octor s ofiice i autton he denreused when the indicator 46 pointed to'the delineati n numbered 't would depress thecom ts t mm so that sa d contact arm would b idge communication between the common contact 24-. and the head 12st fiddle one of the contact 11 as shown in F Q'ure 3 of thedra s. the circuit in the w. e 50 leadi to-the a "UilOlttOl" '51 rmd signal 52. is can be sent to any of the various departments as indicated by the delineations 49 by mere oscillation of the cover C in order that the pointer 26 will indicate the desired departments to be called.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herewith described, with out departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In a selective circuit push button switch, the combination of a stationary support, a plurality of contacts mounted upon said support, a cover, means for oscillatively connecting said cover to said support, a common contract, a spring normally in line to contact either of said first mentioned contacts, and a button mounted upon said cover adapted for manual operation to cause said spring to contact with said common contact whereby selective connection will be established between said common contact and either of said first mentioned contacts.

2. In a selective circuit push button switch, the combination of a stationary support, a plurality of contacts mounted upon said support, a common contact, a cover, a revoluble cover support detachably mounted upon said stationary member, a push button, a spring mounted upon said cover and normally having one end thereof in line of contact with said first mentioned contacts, said other end engaging said switch button whereby upon manual operation of said button, said spring will engage said common contact, and establish selective communica tion between the same and one of said first mentioned contacts.

3. In a selective circuit switch, the coInbination of a supporting member, a cover, means oscillatively connecting said supporting member and said cover, a plurality of contacts upon said supporting member, a

common contact thereon, a spring connected intermediate its ends to said cover, one end of said spring normally under compression to be in line of contact with said first men tioned contacts, the other end of said spring yieldably held in spaced relation to said common contact, whereby upon depression thereof said spring will establish communication with said common contact and either of said first mentioned contacts.

4. In a selective circuit switch, the combination of a stationary member, a plurality of contacts thereon, a spindle detachablymounted in said stationary support, a cover, a cover support oscillatively mounting said cover upon said spindle, a common contact, and means carried within said cover adapted to selectively bridge said common contact and either of said first mentioned contacts. I

5. In a selective circuit switch, the combination of a stationary support, a plurality of contacts arranged in arcuate alignment upon said support, a spindle detachably mounted upon said stationary sup ort, a common contact carried by said spindle, and insulated from said first mentioned contacts, a second support oscillatively mounted upon said spindle, a hollow cover detachably mounted upon said second support, and enclosing all of said contacts, a switch spring substantially S-shaped in formation detachably mounted within said cover, said spring having one end in normal line of contact with said first mentioned contacts, and said other end yieldably spaced from said common contact, a push button adapted for manual operation to depress said spring to contact the same with said common contact, and indicating means upon the exterior of said cover for selectively determining which of said contacts shall be bridged.

SAMUEL HAMILTON. 

